However, the best quality obsidian often forms below the ground surface around volcanic vents. Sometimes obsidian of excellent quality develops as surface lava flows. Portions of this obsidian flow are mixed with layers of pumice, a glassy, bubble-rich, lightweight rock that develops when water vapor (steam) escapes rapidly from the molten glass at or near the ground surface. One article I read indicated that "an ant could probably outrun an obsidian lava flow." An excellent example of a relatively recent obsidian flow can be found at Paulina Lake (part of the Newberry Volcano), approximately 30 miles southeast of Bend, Oregon. These surface flows are so viscous that they flow very slowly. Some obsidian is erupted as lava flows at the ground surface. This magma is so viscous that sizable mineral crystals cannot grow before chilling of the magma "freezes" crystal development. The resulting silica-rich magma with little remaining water becomes very viscous (thick and pasty) obsidian magma. When rhyolite magma approaches the earth's surface and the pressure of burial decreases, most of the water in the magma is lost as steam. Rhyolite typically cools more rapidly near the earth's surface and contains smaller mineral crystals than granite. Granite cools very slowly miles below the surface of the earth this slow cooling over millions of years allows for the formation of sizable mineral crystals within the slowly cooling mass of molten rock. If obsidian is similar in composition to granite and rhyolite, both of which were originally molten, then why is obsidian glassy? The answer relates to the original cooling rate and water content of the magma. Obsidian typically forms near the end of a volcanic cycle and is often associated with domes of volcanic rock, such as the hills of Glass Buttes, Oregon. In North America, obsidian is found only in localized areas of the West, where the processes of plate tectonics have created geologic conditions favorable to volcanism and the formation of obsidian. Obsidian-bearing volcanoes are typically located in or near areas of crustal instability or mountain building. Obsidian occurs only where geologic processes create volcanoes and where the chemical composition of the magma is rich in silica. In comparison, quartz (crystallized silicon dioxide) has a hardness of 7.0. Obsidian is relatively soft with a typical hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the mineral hardness scale. Because obsidian is not comprised of mineral crystals, technically obsidian is not a true "rock." It is really a congealed liquid with minor amounts of microscopic mineral crystals and rock impurities. It is chemically similar to granite and rhyolite, which also were originally molten. Obsidian consists of about 70 percent or more non-crystallized silica (silicon dioxide). This had obvious advantages for our Stone Age ancestors, who used obsidian extensively for tool making. The intersections of conchoidal fracture surfaces can be sharper than a razor. This smooth, curved type of fracture surface occurs because of the near-absence of mineral crystals in the glass. Like all glass and some other types of naturally occurring rocks, obsidian breaks with a characteristic "conchoidal" fracture. These relatively large mineral crystals (easily visible to the naked eye) give granite a rough fracture surface. Granite is composed entirely of intergrown crystals of quartz, feldspar, mica and other minerals. Crystal faces form only where there is enough open space in the rock mass to allow the natural geometric forms of the crystals to develop as free faces. When crystallization occurs, the atoms that comprise a mineral become arranged in regular, geometric patterns that are unique to the specific mineral. All rocks consist of mixtures of various crystalline minerals. When I say "crystals," don't visualize those beautiful pointed prisms of quartz found in geodes. This volcanic glass has an almost total absence of sizable mineral crystals within the glass matrix. Obsidian is natural glass that was originally molten magma associated with a volcano. My goal in this article is to increase your awareness of some of the more fascinating aspects of this incredible stone. The ancient volcanic hills called Glass Buttes hold a dazzling variety of gem-quality obsidian, including: mahogany, red, flame, midnight lace, jet black, pumpkin, brown, rainbow, gold sheen, silver sheen, green, lizard skin, snowflake and more. But until a few years ago when I made my first obsidian collecting trip to Glass Buttes, Oregon, I thought obsidian was pretty much just black glass. Sharp and shiny, obsidian is so different from other rocks. Ever since I had my first rock collection as a child, I've loved obsidian.
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